Finally! Forensic Election Audit in Maricopa County (AZ) Begins Next Week

a reply to: Boadicea

But I am cautiously optimistic that Maricopa County has played all its cards, and a thorough and honest forensic audit will take place.

Thanks for the diligence despite the derail attempts!
Your efforts are appreciated.!

originally posted by: shooterbrody
a reply to: Boadicea

But I am cautiously optimistic that Maricopa County has played all its cards, and a thorough and honest forensic audit will take place.

Thanks for the diligence despite the derail attempts!
Your efforts are appreciated.!

Yes, I agree. Thanks, Boadicea, for keeping this thread going and updated. I only hope those few trying to derail the thread don't get it closed. We don't need that kind of behaviour.

Here's an article from the Washington Examiner they posted within the last day:

Arizona Secretary Of State One Of Maricopa Audit's Biggest Winners

To quote from the first paragraph of the article: "Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs stands to emerge as one of its main benefactors."

Personally, I think the voters of Arizona, and potentially the voters all across the nation, might turn out to be the main benefactors.

Another quote from the article: “The Democrats are happy about it" [the audit] "because they believe it's a joke"

That right there is what Democrats think of your votes and voice. It's terrible to see that America has fallen this far, because all the Lefties are lapping these lies up as if they were the gospel truth.


TCB

a reply to: TrulyColorBlind
Nice article!
Thanks!

originally posted by: TrulyColorBlind
Here's an article from the Washington Examiner they posted within the last day:

Arizona Secretary Of State One Of Maricopa Audit's Biggest Winners

To quote from the first paragraph of the article: "Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs stands to emerge as one of its main benefactors."

Personally, I think the voters of Arizona, and potentially the voters all across the nation, might turn out to be the main benefactors.

Another quote from the article: “The Democrats are happy about it" [the audit] "because they believe it's a joke"

That right there is what Democrats think of your votes and voice. It's terrible to see that America has fallen this far, because all the Lefties are lapping these lies up as if they were the gospel truth.


TCB

Re: www.washingtonexaminer.com...

Based on his past articles, it's uncharacteristic of Washington Examiner writer Mike Brest to say Arizona SOS Katie Hobbs will benefit in her run for AZ governor, due being staunchly against the Arizona forensic audit.

What if the audit finds significant "irregularities" occurred in the Nov 2020 election that Katie Hobbs administered and oversaw? Will her opposition to the audit still enhance her chances of being elected governor? IMO...no.

a reply to: TrulyColorBlind

Thank you for posting the link!

I'm not even sure what to say about it. But, yeah, I guess for those who don't like the audit, she is making a name for herself... and she's certainly getting the (all favorable) air time to increase exposure and name recognition.

But it's a little premature to say that she's the "biggest winner."

Let's see what the final report says, and where it goes from there...

Arizona's Senators were busy bees Wednesday... and I should have posted this yesterday, but... well... I neglected my updating duties to take part in the robust discussion instead! So back to business!!!

Senate Republicans Pack Budget With Changes To Arizona Election Laws

The Senate added a few election and audit related items to the newly passed budget:

Arizona Senate Republicans inserted several new election-related policies into the state budget overnight, including laws that could soon require watermarks, QR codes and other security measures to be printed on ballots.

Republicans also stripped Arizona’s Democratic secretary of state, Katie Hobbs, of the right to defend the state’s election laws in court, or choose not to, by declaring that the attorney general, Republican Mark Brnovich, has sole authority over election-related litigation.

Other measures include a mandate to inspect state and county voter registration databases and create a report on voters who cast federal-only ballots — an option available to Arizonans who don’t show proof of citizenship to register to vote in the state, but are still allowed to register under federal law.

Members of the Senate Government Committee will now also serve on an election audit committee that will review the results of a Republican-led effort to audit election returns in Maricopa County.

The requirement for security features on ballots sounds good in theory, but it also smacks of full-on crony capitalism:

“By everyone's admission, there is only one company that can do any of this,” Marson said. “And so now, we can't have a competitive bid process or a traditional procurement process at the county or state level to use these counter measures because we're locked into one company.”

That company is Authentix, a Texas-based firm that provided Finchem with a sample ballot from Cochise County that included watermarks, QR codes and other security measures. Finchem had the sample ballot on display at the Capitol in March. According to the Yellow Sheet Report, it could be five times more expensive to print ballots with those security measures as it is to print paper ballots currently in use.

Marson said Finchem has acknowledged the security levels required of companies in the budget amendment could only be met by Authentix.

In theory, Authentix is the only company at this time to provide such services, and I suppose other companies could develop the same/similar safeguards, and new companies could be formed. But for now, this just smacks of crony capitalism with legislation designed to benefit one company.

The additions still have to be approved by the AZ House, so nothing is definite yet.

This does explain why the sudden focus (and fearmongering) recently regarding the adjournment of the Senate Sine Die. This bill would ensure that the Senate committee could (and presumably would) reconvene upon release of the final report and take any necessary and appropriate action, including while the Senate body is adjourned. It would also allow these election and audit-related measures to take place 90 days after adjournment, allowing plenty of time for implementation before 2022's local and midterm elections.

FYI: The above source, the local radio station KJZZ, at 9:00 am is airing "A pro-election audit documentary," if anyone is interested: KJZZ.

Here's a rather shallow, but fairly decent and fairly balanced take on the audit:

6 Key Things to Know About Arizona’s Election Audit

It addresses the following points:

• 1. How Close to Completion?
  
• 2. What’s Controversial About the Audit?
  
• 3. What Is Biden Justice Department Doing?
  
• 4. Could Audit Change Outcome?
  
• 5. What’s So Important About 1 County?
  
• 6. Will Other States Follow Suit?

I describe it as shallow because it does not actually address the alleged irregularities and (potential) illegalities which election workers and others have testified to, nor does it go into the details of the audit methods and procedures.

But in terms of what it does address, it gives a fair description of both "sides" without taking sides. And there's not much in there that those of us who have been following are not already aware of, but it's still worth reading for information's sake.

Documents shed light on security at Arizona audit

Among the documents is a contract requiring the Senate to make a $20,000 “contribution” to the Arizona Rangers, a non-profit law enforcement support agency. Mike Droll, the State Commander for the Arizona Rangers, said he wasn’t sure if the Senate had paid the money and said it was the only agreement between the Rangers and the Senate he was aware of.

“We are out there to donate our services and time to the community,” Droll said to the Arizona Mirror, adding that the agreement “wasn’t contingent on how many hours of service” the organization’s members provided.

The agreement between the Rangers and the Senate is signed by Droll and Senate President Karen Fann, and strikes out the word “compensation” and replaces it with the hand-written word “contribution.”

The Arizona Rangers have been fundraising as well, Droll said, as many of the Rangers involved are driving from areas far away from the audit. The group has raised more than $180,000 on a GoFundMe page.

I was aware of the Arizona Rangers providing security; I was not aware of some DPS officers (off-duty) providing some security as well:

“DPS troopers are working off-duty at the Coliseum and are being paid by a private contractor,” Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said to the Mirror.

“That’s all the information I know. DPS is not involved with the security company that hired the troopers.”

This is curious, but I'm wondering if these folks were hired during the break in June to allow graduation ceremonies to be held:

Phoenix based Anderson Security Agency has also been supplying security for the audit with armed guards at the rate of $50 an hour.

The agreement for two guards obtained via public records request is only for 7 days, and it is unclear if the contract was extended.

A little more from the audit:

Arizona Audit Daily Update: Paper Analysis Is Finishing Up – So What’s Next!?

The paper analysis phase is still set to be completed by Saturday.

The audit team is still lacking the subpoenaed routers, logs and passwords, so litigation is expected in order to obtain that information. They will need this information to entirely complete the full forensic audit. Legislative subpoenas for this data were issued on January 13, 2021.

The forensic report will come out in about 30 days or more. The Senate will decide what action must be taken based on the forensic analysis. Attorney General Mark Brnovich will need to decide if a criminal investigation is necessary.

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MORE States Tour AZ Audit – AZ State Senator Wendy Rogers: Senate WILL Hold Hearings and Investigate Audit Results Regardless of Sine Die

Delegations from Michigan and South Carolina toured the Arizona election audit on Wednesday, in order to bring election integrity to their home states. On Tuesday, a delegation from Washington received a tour, led in part by Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers.

Senator Wendy Rogers is quoted:

Senate President Karen Fann, my colleague put out a statement last night, which clarifies the fact that even with Sine Die, which is Latin basically for adjourning our legislature, which is a part time legislature, we still will be able to hold hearings and investigate, even in the offseason, as it were, with the Senate Judiciary Committee of which I’m the vice chair. and also it’s important to understand that when the legislature adjourns the 90 day clock starts and then these bills that we have gotten through that we have gotten signed for the restoration of election integrity can take effect. So we want that to be able to go into effect.

Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers, State Senator Sonny Borrelli, and Senate President Karen Fann have assured us that the Senate will pursue ANYTHING the audit finds, even during the off-season!

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MORE State Delegations Tour The AZ Audit Including Oregon and Washington – “The Freight Train of Audits” continues!

On Monday, a delegation from Washington toured the audit and it is quickly gaining steam across the country.

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“It Was Everything We Expected” – Oregon Delegation Tours AZ Audit

a reply to: Boadicea

It will be interesting if other states, including those who just did some investigation and claim they found nothing wrong, goes to the in depth level this does and finds something wrong.

Election integrity is the most important aspect of this and it will bring the best ROI of anything done yet. (IMHO)

a reply to: network dude
Arizona results will either open the flood gates, or shut down the speculation of fraud/cheating. This audit is expensive and utilized a lot of resources. I don't think any state is chomping at the bit to get one started, without good reasons for doing so.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus
Sadly you don't understand what you spew.
I have never spoken to you.
Please elaborate when I have.

As to the rest, it doesn't really matter; this discussion is complete.

a reply to: Chadwickus
Of what?
A foreigner chiming in?